Washing machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l f4 JJ 44 FIM 4f Sept. 9, 1941.

.Sept 9, 1941. G. w. DUNHAM 2,255,505

WASHING MACHINE v Original Filed Nov. 11, 1957 2 Shees-Sheerl 2 fr x:

Inventor: 680132@ w. Dunham,

AMAA

l 9 Hmttorneg,

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 General Electric Co New York Original applicationNovember 11, 1937, Serial No. 173,987. Divided and this applicationAugust 23, v1939, Sem! N0. 291,599

(ci. sa-ss) Clalms.

The object of my invention is to provide' an k improved construction andarrangement in washing machines and for a consideration of what I whichformthe intermediatemember of the universal joint. The lower end of theshaft Ill is believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directedto the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section,of -a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional view of the driving connections for the agitator and therotatable receptacle as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l3 is a sectional viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the clutch between the shaft and thereceptacle in the disengaged position; Fig. 4 is a similar view showingthe clutch i in the engaged position; Fig. 5'is a sectional view takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 1; 6 is a sectional elevation of the drivingmechanism for the washing machine; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken online 1-1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 3 8 of Fig.6 and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of theagitator.

provided with diametrically opposed pins I6 which rare spaced betweenthe pins,i2 and are likewise journaled in bearings .carried between theplates I5 of the universal joint. .With this construction, the verticalshaft I0 may have a gyratory movement with respect to the driving shaft8. The sleeve li extends above the normal water level in the stationarytub I. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a spherical seat fora self-lubricating sleeve bearing I1 which guides the vertical shaft I9.This spherical seat comprises a flared portion I3 of the sleeve and aring Ita fixedtherein. This-spherical seat permits alinement of thebearing I1 with the shaft III so that the bearing pressure is uniformregardless -of the inclination of the shaft.

,a hollow post 20 which .extends through central openings in the top'wall of the base and the bot- Referring to the drawings, the washingmachine comprises a stationary tub I ywhich is supported on a base 2.The upper end of the tub is partially closed by an annular cover 3having a ange 4 which fits within the upper edge of the tub. Between theange l and the tub is a suitable gasket 5. `A cover 6 rests on the inneredge ofjt'he annular cover 3 and completes the closing of the top of thestationary tub. When clothes are to be inserted or removed from thewashing machine, only the cover 5 need be removed. The cover 3 isremoved when the inside of the stationary tub is to be cleaned. The base2 is provided with a skirt 1 which extendsabove the bottom of thestationary tub and covers the abutting edges of the tub and the base.

W thin the base 2 is supported a driving mechani hereinafter described,for the washing tom wall of., the stationary tub., The post 20 is'secured to thebottom wall kof the tub and to the base by means ofscrews 2| which are threaded through a clamping ring 22 into a iiange 23which is integral with the post 20. Suitable gaskets are arrangedbetween .the ange 23 and the base and between the base and the bottomwall of the tub. Leakage from the bottom of the tub is prevented bymeans of a rubber sleeve 24 which has its lower edge-clampedbetween thering 22 and the bottom of the tub and which has its upper edge clampedto the sleeve II above the post 20 by means of a clamp 25. YWithin thepost 20 is a resilient mounting for the lower .end of the sleeve IIwhich comprises two annuluses 26 of rubber or other resilient material.The lower annulus is arranged between an inwardly extending flange 21 atthe lower end of the post and a flange 28 projecting from a sleeve 29secured to the sleeve II.` 'I'he upper annulus is arranged between theupper side of the flange 28 and a machine which drives a vertical shaft8. Keyed vwasher 30. The inner edge of the upper annulus 26 restsagainst a sleeve 3| which is xed to the sleeve il. The sleeve 3i is ofthe same dimensions as the sleeve 29 and is used so that the annuluses26 may be of the same size. The resilience of the mounting is Aadjustedby means of anut 32 which is threaded into the upper end of the post 20.This nut varies the compression of the rubber and thereby varies thestiiness of the mounting. With this mounting, the sleeve I I isresiliently held ina central position and is free to tilt in alldirections in order'that the shaft I3 which is guided in the sleeve mayhave a gyratory movement.

In the upper part of the stationary tub is a rotatable tub or receptacle33 for receiving liquid and material to be washed. The space between thebottom of the receptacle 33 and the bottom of the stationary tub I issufficient to provide a storage space for all the liquid which .can beplaced in the receptacle. At the center of the receptacle is a verticalsleeve 34 which serves as the hub for the receptacle. The upper end ofthe sleeve 34 projects above the water level in the receptacle. Thelower end of the sleeve 34 fits into an opening in the bottom wall ofthe receptacle and an opening in a stiifening disk 36, both of which areheld in position between a shoulder and a spun-over portion, as shown at36. The lower end of the sleeve 34 is provided with a circular flange 31which extends over the upper side of the bottom wall of the receptacle.The flange 31 and the stiffening disk 36 are secured to the bottom wallof the receptacle by means of rivets 33. The lower end of the sleeve 34is guided by a self-lubricating bearing 33 which is fixed to thevertical shaft III. The upper end of the sleeve 34 is guided on theshaft I3 by a self-lubricating sleeve bearing 43 which is pressed withinthe upper end of the sleeve against an inwardly extending flange 4| (seeFig. 2) formed thereon. The lower end of the sleeve bearing 43 bears ona hardened steel thrust collar 42 which is keyed to the shaft I3. Thethrust collar is supported on the shaft by means of a shoulder 43 on theshaft. The weight of the receptacle and the material contained thereinis transmitted to the thrust collar 42 by the bearing 43 and through theshoulder 43 to the shaft III. From the shaft i3 the weight istransmitted through the universal joint to the shaft 3. f

The shaft I projects above the sleeve 46 and the projecting end isprovided with splines 44 into which fit complementary teeth formed in abushing 45 which is fixed in the upper end of a sleeve 46. 'I'he sleevedepends around the hub 34 of the receptacle and has a bearing 41 in itslower end which bears on the hub. At the lower end of the sleeve 46 is adisk 46 having a hub 43 fixed to the sleeve 46. Eccentrically located inthe upper surface of the disk is a circular depression having vreticalwalls 50 and bottom walls l inclined upward and merging into the hub 43.From the upper end of the vertical walls 66 the upper surface 62a of thedisk flares downward and outward toward the bottom of the receptacleterminating in an inwardly rolled edge 62 adjacent the inner surface ofa vertical flange 53 of a ring 54 secured to the bottom walls of thereceptacle. Projecting from the sleeve 46 are upper and lower arms 55and 66 in which are fixed bearings 61 and 63 in which a pin 63 isrotatably carried. The upper end of the pin 53 is fixed in a boss 63 ona plate 6I secured to the top wall of a cylindrical agitator 62. Thearms 66 and 56 and the pin 53 journaled therein constitute an eccentricmeans supporting the agitator. The lower edge of the boss 60 bears on achamfered. seat 63 formed in a thrust bearing 64 fixed to the upper sideof the arm 66.. The chamfered seat 63 serves las a guide opening whichfacilitates the insertion of the pin 53 into the bearing' 61. The sidewalls of the agitator are corrugated to form vertical ribs 65. The lowerend of the agitator is cylindrical and projects within the circulardepression formed in the top oi' the disk 4I. The lower end of theagitator terminates in an inwardly rolled edge 66. Upon rotation of theshaft i3 the disk 46 and the arms 66 and 66 are rotated. This causes theagitator 62 to have an orbital movement in the receptacle, squeezing theclothes between the agitator and the side walls of the receptacle. Sincethe agitator is freely rotatable in the bearings 61 and 63 it is heldrelatively stationary by the resistance offered by the clothes. 'I'heagitator may have some slight rotating movement due to variations in theresistance offered by the clothes. Since the disk is rotating relativeto the agitator there is no tendency for clothes to move beneath thelower end of the agitator. Clothes which are accidentally moved into thespace between the agitator and the vertical walls 56 on the disk moveoutward as the disk revolves. The downwardly flaring upper surface 52aof the disk also tends to move the clothes outward along the bottom wallof the receptacle. This outward movement tends to force the clothesupward along the side walls of the receptacle inducing a circulation ofclothes diagrammatically shown by the arrows 61. From one aspect thedisk 43 with the recess formed by the walls 50 constitutes a guard ringsurrounding the lower end of the agitator. The flange 63 cooperates withthe edge 62 of the disk to prevent the movement of the clothesunderneath the disk.

While the agitator is being operatedfor washing, there is some tendencyfor the receptacle 33 to be rotated in the same direction as the shaftI0. In the construction illustrated, this direction of rotation iscounterclockwise viewed from the top of Fig. 1. If this rotation of thereceptacle were permitted there would be less relative movement of theagitator in the receptacle and the washing action would therefore beless. This counterclockwise rotation of the receptacle 33 is preventedby an over-running clutch arranged between a cylindrical flange 66depending from the sleeve 34 and a collar 63 threaded into the upper endof the sleeve Il and loosely surrounding the shaft Ill. There issuilicient clearance between the collar and the shaft so that the shaftand collar do not come in contact in any position of the shaft. In theside walls of the collar 63 are notches 16 (Fig.'5) in which are carriedrolls 1|. Vertical movement of the rolls in the notches is prevented bya washer 13a at the top and by bottom walls 10b of the notches. Thesides of the notches 16 are inclined s0 that when the receptacle 33 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the top in Fig. l(a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5) the rolls 1I are jammedbetween the inclined surfaces of the notches 13 and the inner walls ofthe flange 66, holding the receptacle against rotation. When thereceptacle is rotated, in the reverse direction. the rolls occupy theposition shown in Fig. 5, and offer no resistance to the rotation of thereceptacle.

The side walls of the receptacle are provided with ribs 12 which tend toprevent rotational movement of the clothes around the receptacle duringwashing. The ribs also key the clothes and liquid to the side walls ofthe receptacle at the start of extracting. The clothes are preventedfrom falling over the upper edge of the receptacle by means of anannular guard ring 13 which is located slightly below the lower edge ofthe receptacle. During washing, water may be continuously dischargedinto the top of the receptacle. The excess water will flow throughOn-the hub 95 is cu t a pinion 91 established. When the gear The top andside walls of th'e gear casing are formed from a casting. the lower endof which is closed by a plate 18. Extending across the side walls of thecasting is a strut 19 in which is flxed a sleeve bearing 80 guiding thelower end of the shaft`8. In the upper side of the strut 19 is a seat 8|in which is arrangeda ball thrust bearing 82. A shoulder83 on the shaft8 transmits the thrust from the shaft through the ball bearing 82 to thestrut 19. 'I'he ball bearing therefor carries the weight of thereceptacle 33 and contents, th'e weight being transmitted through theuniversal joint between the shafts 8 and I0. The bearings 80 and 82 arelocated within the gear casing and are therefore easily lubricated.

In the top wall of the gear casing is a boss 84 in which is fixed asleeve bearing 85. Journaled in the bearing 85 is a sleeve 86 the upperend of which projects outside the gear casing and has keyed thereto apulley 81 which is driven through a V-belt 88 by a reversible` electricmotor 89. The motor is suitably supported, in a manner not shown, fromthe base 2. Integral with the lower end of the sleeve 88 is a pinion 90which meshes with a gear 9| rotatably carried on a shaft 92 fixed in aboss 93 integral with the top wall of the gear casing. The gear 9| issupported on the shaft 92 by a thrust washer 94 bearing against thelower end of the hub 95 of the gear. The thrust washeris held in place'by a snap ring 96.

with a gear 98 rotatably surrounding sleeves 99 and fixed to the shaft8. Projecting from the lower side of the gear 98 is a hub |0| whichbears on the ball thrust bearing 82.v

Between the gear 98 and the shaft 8 is an overrunning clutch (Fig. 8)which comprises rolls |02 confined between the adjacent ends of sleeves99 and shaft 8. When the gear 98 is rotated in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 8, the rolls are in the position shown and there is noconnection between the gear and the shaft. This may be termed the free"position of the clutch, i. e. the position in which no drivingconnection is 98 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 8, the rolls are wedged between the inner surface of the hub |0|and the inclined surfaces of the notches |03, establishing a drivingconnection between the gear and a driving connection between the gearand the shaft. In this condition, thev clutch is in its engaged ordriving position.

Between the sleeve 86 and the shaft 8 is an over-running clutch whichcomprises rolls |04 confined between sleeves |05 andl |06 fixed to theshaft 8 and arranged in notches |01 in the shaft. When the sleeve 8B isrotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, the rollsare in the position shown, this being the free" position in which nodriving connection is established between the sleeve and the shaft. Whenthe sleeve 88 is rotated in a clockwise direction the rolls |04 arewedged between the inner surfaces of the sleeve 88 and the inclinedsurfaces of the which meshes notches |01 establishing a drivingconnection to the shaft.

When the motor 89 rotates in the direction to vrotate the pulley 81 in acounterclockwise direc tion, as viewed from the top of Fig. 6, theoverrunning clutch between the sleeve 88 and the shaft 8 is in the freeposition, i. e., the position in which no driving connection isestablished between the sleeve and the shaft. while the overrunningclutch between the gear`98 and the shaft 8 is in the engaged or drivingposition establishing a driving connection to the shaft. Under thesecircumstances the shaft 8 is rotated at a relatively slow speed in acounterclockwise direction through the reduction gearing which comprisesthe pinion 90, the gear 9|, the pinion 91,

and the gear 98. This causes the sleeve 45 to be rotated giving theagitatorf 62 an orbital movement in the receptacle which enects thewashing action. The over-running clutch between the flange 68 of thereceptacle and the collar 69 fixed to the sleeve (Fig. 5) holds thereceptacle stationary, as explained above.

When the motor is rotated in the direction to cause rotation of thepulley 81 in a clockwise direction,.as viewed from the top of Fig. 6,the over-running clutch betweenl the sleeve 86 and the shaft 8 is in theposition to establish adriving connection to the shaft 8 and the shaftis accordingly rotated at the same speed as the pulley. Under thiscondition the over-running clutch between the gear 98 and the shaft 8-is in the free position so that no'drivng connection is establishedbetween -thevgear 98 and the shaft 8. Since no reduction gearing isinterposed between the pulley and the shaft 8, the shaft is rotated at arelatively high speed and in a clockwise direction. During this rotationof the shaft, the clutch between the flange 68 and the collar 85 is inits free position.

During the high speed rotation of the shaft 8, a driving connectionbetween vthe shaft I0 and the receptacle 33 is effected by means of acentrifugal clutch which is carried in the thrust collar 42. 'I'hisclutch comprises two .shoes |08 which are held against a squaredcam"surface |09 on the thrust collar by means of two split rings IIO.During washing, when the shaft |0 is rotated at a relatively slow speed,of the order of a magnitude of 60 revolutlonsper minute, the split rings|I0 are strong enough to hold the shoes |08 against the squared portion|09. During extracting, the shaft l0 is rotated at a speed of the orderof 1200 R. P. M. As soon as the speed of rotation of the shaft I0exceeds a few hundred R. P. M. the clutch shoes |08 move outward underthe action of centrifugal force and touch the inner surface of thesleeve 84 which forms the hub of the receptacle 33. As soon as the shoes|08 contact the inner surface of the sleeve 34, rotation of the shoes isretarded and the squared surface |09 of the clutch 42 cooperates withthe inner surface of the shoes |08 and wedges the shoes tightly againstthe inner surface of ,the sleeve 84 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Thepressure between the sleeve and the shoes is proportional to :he torqueexerted on shaft l0. This effects a positive driving connection betweenthe shaft l0 and the receptacle which causes the receptacle to berotated. Similarly, when the speed of the shaft is retarded by the brakein stopping, the shoes release and immediately wedge in the oppositedirection. During thehlgh speed (clockwise) rotation of the shaft I0,the overrunning clutch between the receptacle and the sleeve Il (Fig. 5)is in the free position, permitting the rotation of the receptacle. g

In the use of the washing machine, the receptacle is nlled with liquidand clothes and the motor is rotated in the direction to cause rotationof the pulley 81 in a'counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the topof Fig. 6. This causes the shaft 8 to be rotated at a relatively slowspeed through the reduction gearing which comprises the pinion 90, thegear Si, the pinion 91, and the gear 98, causing the agitator 62 Ato begiven an orbital movement in the receptacle squeezing the clothesbetween the sides of the receptacle. During washing, the over-runningclutch between the flange 68 and the collar 69 holds the receptaclestationary. At the conclusion of the washing operation the direction ofthe rotation of the motor is reversed causing the shaft 8 to be rotatedat a relatively high speed through the clutch between the sleeve 86 andthe shaft 8. During the high speed rotation the liquid is centrifugallyextracted from the clothes in the receptacle. The overrunning clutchbetween the flange 68 and the collar 68 is in its free position duringthe high speed rotation of the receptacle, and accordingly, offers noresistance. With this construction, the shift from washing to extractingis obtained by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor.` Sincethe motor must come to a standstill before reversing its rotation, it isnot possible to simultaneously operate both the washing and extractingmechanism and vthere is no need for interlocks or other safety devicesto prevent the simultaneous operation of the washing and extractingmechanism.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, a rotatable agitator therein, the lowerend being adjacent the bottom of the tub, a guard ring surrounding thelower end of the agitator, and means for rotating the guard ringrelative to the tub and to the agitator.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, eccentric means, an agitator rotatablycarried thereby, the lower end being adjacent the bottom of the tub,means for rotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is movedorbitally in the tub, and a guard ring carried by the eccentric meanssurrounding the lower end o! the agitator.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub,eccentric means, an agitator rotatably carried thereby, the lower endthereof being adjacent the bottom of the tub, means for rotating thedisk and the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally inthe tub, and walls on the disk surrounding the lower end of the agitatorfor preventing ingress of clothes beneath the lower en'd of theagitator.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, eccentric means having a disk connectedthereto and located adjacent the bottom of the tub, an agitatorrotatably mounted on the eccentric means, means for rotating theeccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally in the tub, andwalls on the disk surrounding the lower end of the agitator.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub,eccentric means connected to the disk, an agitator rotatably carried bythe eccentric means, the lower end thereof being adjacent the uppersurface of the disk, the upper surface of the disk flaring downwardlyand outwardly toward the bottom of the tub from the agitator, walls onthe disk surrounding the lower end of the agitator, and means forrotating the eccentric means whereby the agitator is moved orbitally inthe tub.

GEORGE W. DUNHAM.

